WAIPAPAKAURI RACING CLUB.

Northland Age, Volume 24, Issue 47, 19 March 1925, Page 3

WAIPAPAKAURI RACING CLUB.

An extraordinary general meeting of the above club took place at the Northland Hall last week, the President, Mr. 1 . S. Houston, presiding. There were 20 members present. The meeting was called to adopt rules for the incorporation of the Club, the rules submitted by the secretary being adopted on the motion of Messrs. E. C. Matthews and T. J. Fleming. Some discussion took place regarding the committee’s power with regard to expenditure on improvements but no action was taken.

In the official notification of the granting of the totalisator permit, the Minister stated, inter alia The license will be available this year, but before it will be issued it will be necessary for the Club to provide a properly constructed racecourse and suitable appointments, the course to be preferably one mile in circumferance, but not less than seven furlongs; one chain wide throughout, fully railed with regulation rail on the inside; properly graded and made reasonably safe for horses and riders. The appointments to include sanitary accomodation for both sexes; totalisator house, jockeys’ room with lockers, weighing room, room for officials and ambulance room with equipment.

When the Club has complied with the above requirements, the Minister is to be notified when he will direct an officer of his department and if possible a stipendiary steward to inspect the course and appointments. The Minister wished it to be clearly understood that permission will not be given the Club to race on other than its own racecourse in the district for which the permit was granted. It was decided to accept the permit on the above condititions and also to advise the Minister that the Club would not be in a position to race again at Waipapakauri before the end of the current racing year, viz., July 31st, 1925. At a subseqent meeting of the committee it was decided, on the motion of Messrs. J. Leydoi and T. J. Fleming, that the secretary arrange forthwith lor the lease and purchase of the present course property, on which the the Club has an option to purchase, the terms of which are: Lease for 21 years with right of purchase at £25 per acre, principal sum to bear interest at 6 per centum. About 60 acres will be required, which means that the Club will pay interest on £ISOO which is £9O per annum. Mr. E. Evans said the course should be ploughed and sown in grass this fall and they should get to work right away. Regarding timber for the fencing and railing the Club would be welcome to any logs on his place, free of charge. The chairman agreed that the course would have to receive early attention but the first thing to be done was to call up the “sinews of war” in the shape of a first call of £l on debentures. He anticipated being able to get heart of totara from the A. and P. Association for about 25/- per 100 feet for railing, etc. The cost of laying down the course and erecting railing. would, he thought, be covered by the first call on the debentures. He suggested that all members visit the course and decide on the future lay-out. Th§ Minister advised making it a left hand course. The secretary was instructed to notify all those who took up debentures to pay in £l on each debenture on the date of the annual general meeting, to be held on the third Wednesday in April. Accounts amounting to £377/14/9 were passed for payment. In presenting the financial details the secretary (Mr. T. H. Kenny) said that in 1923 they were. £240 in debt, that being reduced to £99 in 1924. By economising he hoped the Club will be able to start the new year with a clean slate.

The balance-sheet will be presented at the annual meeting